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Ursuline students build businesses and confidence in expanding program

Ursuline students build businesses and confidence in expanding program

by Shannon Dufresne
 

The Ursuline Business Program is expanding with new energy as students dive into hands-on learning and real-world competition with the professional world. This year, 20 students are enrolled in Virtual Enterprises, a new class where students will build a company from the ground up. The class will conduct market research, write business plans, analyze financials, and present at national competitions.

“Being able to create something from scratch and pitch it like a real company is what makes this class different,” said Mrs. Jill Patricot, financial literacy and Bloomberg instructor. “It’s not just theory, we’re actually doing the work.”

Being able to create something from scratch and pitch it like a real company is what makes this class different. “It’s not just theory, we’re actually doing the work.”
- Mrs. Jill Patricot, financial literacy and Bloomberg instructor

Ursuline's distinctive Business Program continues to grow under Patricot’s leadership. In addition to teaching Bloomberg Financial Markets, she oversees DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), the business club.

Over the summer, Patricot was invited to speak at Bloomberg’s Global Symposium, where she shared how Ursuline students use Bloomberg Terminal data to explore investing, global finance, and market trends. She also had the opportunity to network with established universities and high schools from around the world.

“Our students are not just learning about business, they’re stepping into it,” Patricot said. “Many leave with Bloomberg Certifications or a portfolio of business experience that gives them a real edge in college applications.”

Our students are not just learning about business, they’re stepping into it. Many leave with Bloomberg Certifications or a portfolio of business experience that gives them a real edge in college applications."
- Mrs. Jill Patricot, financial literacy and Bloomberg instructor

Jill Patricot presenting on panel discussion, "Teaching the Terminal: Financial Literacy," during Bloomberg’s Global Symposium in June 2025. 


While the program opens many doors, students are encouraged to take ownership of their experience.

“This is a chance for students to be the business, each of them is responsible for their own growth,” Patricot said. “They learn to advocate for themselves, take initiative, and manage their time. I’m here to guide them, but they have to step forward, engage fully, and take responsibility for what they want to achieve.”

In the upcoming 2025-26 academic year, the program also aims to deepen its real-world exposure by reaching out to alumnae and alumnae parents who work in the financial sector. In recent years, students have visited Bloomberg, Amazon, Citibank, US Bank, and Nasdaq, experiences that bring classroom concepts to life. Patricot will also work closely with Ursuline’s college counseling team to help students connect with colleges and universities that offer competitive undergraduate business programs.

This dynamic course is more than a simulation—it’s a launchpad. Ursuline students gain real-world experience, develop essential skills, and build a strong foundation that prepares them for college-level business programs and internship opportunities in fast-evolving fields, such as fintech, digital marketing, and data analytics

 

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